Tennis’ Top Stars Return To Court In Indian Wells

For the first time since the upset-laden Australian Open, the majority of the world’s top men’s tennis players will be back in action over the next 10 days at the first Masters 1000 event of 2017 in Indian Wells. And, after events Down Under, several of the men toward the top of the ATP rankings go into Indian Wells with questions hanging over their heads.

At the very top of the tennis rankings, Andy Murray will be aiming to show that his reign as world No. 1 is more than just a temporary one. After an incredible second half of last season to get to the top of the rankings for the first time, the Scot suffered major disappointment with a shock fourth-round exit in Australia.

Murray regained his footing by taking the title in Dubai last week, but he didn’t have to get past a single ranked inside the world’s top 10. His record at Indian Wells is also surprisingly poor, having reached just one final in his career.

“I have never really felt that I played my best tennis here,” Murray said last year after his third-round defeat last year. “I have tried and had many different preparations, where I've got here early and spent a lot of time on the courts, and sometimes I arrive later... Obviously it takes time to get used to new conditions regardless of where it is, but I have just never really found a way to get comfortable here throughout my career. It's a shame.”

The same can’t be said of the man he dethroned from the top spot in the rankings at the end of last season. Djokovic has won the title in Indian Wells five times, including for the last three years. And that should prove a major comfort after a continuation of his struggles at the start of 2017. After, like Murray, going out early at the first Grand Slam of the year, he suffered a quarterfinal loss to young Australian Nick Kyrgios in Acapulco last week.

World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka went down to an even earlier loss last week when losing his opening match in Dubai. He and world No. 5 Kei Nishikori will now be looking for a first title in India Wells. Meanwhile, the man ranked fourth in the world, Milos Raonic will have to watch on from afar with a hamstring problem continuing his injury woes.

A three-time winner in Indian Wells, Rafael Nadal will go into this year’s event ranked sixth after his memorable run at the Australia Open was ended one win short of a dream title. Instead, the fairytale finish was taken by Roger Federer, who claimed a sensational 18th Grand Slam title in his first tournament back after a long injury layoff.

Having lost early in Dubai in his only tournament since lifting the trophy aloft in Melbourne, the 35-year-old will take to the court in California aiming to show that it was more than just a glorious final flourish to his record-breaking career.